Key closure



Feb. 6, 1962 D. H. KUNG 3,019,635

KEY CLOSURE Filed Oct. 10, 1957 l1 1:-.1 Il 1.' E /gr /ZJ/ c0105 lg u mi:

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ATTORNEY 3,319,635 Fatenteel Feb. 6, 1962 ffice 3,019,635 KEY CLSUEE Dorothy H. Kling, Dayton, @bio Filed (let. lil, 1957, Ser. No. 689,237 1 Ciairn. (Cl. 7tl i56) The present invention relates to a key closure and more particularly to an article of jewelry, such as a bracelet, having a key detachably mounted therein for instant and convenient use.

Generally there is provided a key closure which may be incorporated as a part of a bracelet. In one form of the invention, there is provided an open-ended relatively thin housing which forms a part of a bracelet and which is interiorly provided with a novel tlat spring of such construction that when a key is moved into the housing, the spring bears against one side thereof to frictionally maintain the key within the housing. A chain interconnects the housing and the panel portion of the key so that the key may not be accidentally lost. In another form of the invention, both ends of the housing are open and the single spring is adapted to receive a pair of keys, one of which may be inserted into either end of the housing. In still another form of the invention, the key housing is suspended from the bracelet by chains and the key is likewise suspended from the bracelet but still insertable into the housing when not in use and frictionally held therein to keep the same from view.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel combined bracelet and key closure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a key closure which forms a novel and ornamental portion of a bracelet.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character set forth, a novel retaining spring forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specications taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bracelet ernbodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 showing a key in position within a key housing forming a part of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a similar view to FIGURE 3 but showing the key positioned outside of the housing.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of a modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, a bracelet having a linked band 1G and a bezel portion in the form of a fiat hollow elongated housing 11 closed, as indicated at 12, at one end thereof, the other end 13 being open.

A chain 14 is connected to an eye 15 mounted irn- Vmediately within the opening 13 and the other end of the chain 14 is aiixed to the handle portion of a key 16.

A ilat spring 17 is provided with upwardly bowed end portions 18 which terminate in inwardly directed arms 19 which are slidably mounted in transversely extending brackets 29 mounted adjacent the outer ends of the inner face of the outer wall of the casing 11.

In use, it will be apparent that the key 16 is maintained at all times as a part of the bracelet 1t? and that it may be withdrawn, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, for normal use but that when it is no longer needed, it may be inserted into the housing 16 to bear against the underside of the spring 17, as shown in FIGURE 3, the spring acting to rictionally hold the key 16 against the bottom wall of the housing 11 and out of view.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, an identical structure is shown with the exception that the bracelet is formed of a pair of arcuate legs 2t) and the housing l@ is provided with two open ends 13 and 21 together with an additional chain 14a connected at one of its ends to an eye 15a mounted immediately within the opening 21 and having its other end attached to the handle portion of a second key 16a.

In the operation of this form of the invention, it will be apparent that it is identical with the exception that the key 16a may be inserted either above or below the key 16 when the same is not in use. It will be apparent that in this form of the invention, two diterent keys may be mounted within the housing 11 when they are not in use but either may be readily withdrawn when needed.

While but certain forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A key retaining device comprising a shallow elongated housing having an open end and a pair of spaced opposed walls provided with inner surfaces facing each other, a pair of spaced brackets securing said inner surface of one of said walls, and a substantially U-shaped spring disposed longitudinally of and substantially coextensively with said walls and having inturned ends respectively slidably mounted in said brackets whereby a key inserted through said open end between said spring and said other wall is maintained flat against said inner surface of said other wall by said spring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,044,686 Osmers Nov. 19, 1912 1,621,777 Gladstone Mar. 22, 1927 2,657,569 Hill Nov. 3, 1953 2,728,501 Hill Dec. 27, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,706 Great Britain 1911 807,979 Germany July 9. 1951 

